1 / 36

Chapter 18

States and Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Chapter 18. Learning objectives for Chapter 18. Explain the connections between agriculture and population growth in postclassical sub-Saharan Africa. Identify key features of postclassical African political organization.

daire
Download Presentation

Chapter 18

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. States and Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa Chapter 18

  2. Learning objectives for Chapter 18 • Explain the connections between agriculture and population growth in postclassical sub-Saharan Africa. • Identify key features of postclassical African political organization. • Explain the links between trans-Saharan trade and the formation of west African Islamic states.

  3. Learning objectives for Chapter 18 • Explain the role of east African Islamic states in Indian Ocean trade. • Outline the formation of social classes in postclassical Africa. • Identify key features of postclassical African religion. • Discuss the arrival of Christianity and Islam in sub-Saharan Africa.

  4. Effects of Early African Migrations • Bantu-speaking peoples settle south of Equator • Agriculture, herding spreads with Bantu migrations • Iron metallurgy

  5. Bantu Migrations, 2000 BCE-1000 CE

  6. Cultivation of Bananas • Domesticated in south-east Asia • 300-500 CE: Malay sailors colonize Madagascar • Introduce bananas, yams, chickens • Well-adapted to African climate • Food supply increases with this key crop

  7. Population Growth

  8. Kin-Based Societies • Stateless, segmented societies • No elaborate hierarchies, bureaucracies • Average population of village: 100 • Ruled by elders • Network of villages resolve disputes in ad hoc manner • Higher government authorities rare

  9. Chiefdoms • Population pressures after 1000 increase competition, disputes • Small chiefdoms appear, overrule kin-based groups • Small kingdoms form • Ife, Benin

  10. Kingdoms and empires of sub-Saharan Africa, 800-1500 C.E.

  11. Kingdom of Kongo • Basin of the Congo (Zaire) River • Conglomeration of several village alliances • Participated actively in trade networks • Most centralized rule of the early Bantu kingdoms • Royal currency: cowries • Ruled 14th-17th century until undermined by Portuguese slave traders

  12. Islamic Kingdoms and Empires • Islam spreads to west Africa • Trans-Saharan caravans • Coastal east Africa through maritime trade • Profound influence after 8th century

  13. Trans-saharan Trade and Islamic States in West Africa • Desiccation of Sahara begins c. 5000 BCE • Introduction of Arabian camels revolutionizes trade • 70-90 days to cross Sahara • Arabs establish trading communities • Gao

  14. The Kingdom of Ghana • Not related to modern State of Ghana • Developed 4th-5th c. CE • Protection against camel-driving raiders • Center of African gold trade • Imported from south to Ghana • Also sold ivory, slaves

  15. Koumbi-Saleh • Capital of Kingdom of Ghana • High point during 9th-12th centuries • Population 15,000-20,000 • Military, cultural center

  16. Islam in West Africa • Kings of Ghana convert during 10th century • Positive impact on trade, relations with north Africa • Synthesized Islam with local traditions syncretism • Nearby Takrur aggressive missionaries

  17. Sundiata (r. 1230-1255) • Empire of Mali extends over Kingdom of Ghana • Neighboring kingdoms as well • Took greater advantage of trans-Saharan trade • Nominally Muslim, but did not force conversions

  18. Mansa Musa (r. 1312-1337) • Grandson of Sundiata • Fervent Muslim • Performed Hajj in 1324-25 • Constructed numerous mosques • Supported Muslim scholars • Empire declines after his rule Richest man in world history!Net worth from gold and salt trade estimated at nearly $400 billion (2012 dollars)

  19. Mansa Musa

  20. The Indian Ocean Trade and Islamic States in East Africa • East coast maritime trade weak until 2nd century • Bantu peoples populate coast • Swahili (“coasters”) engage in trade with Arabs • Language a form of Bantu, influenced by Arabic • 10th century trade increases

  21. The Swahili City-States • Great wealth during 11th-12th centuries CE • Development of city-states • Architecture moved from wood/mud to coral, stone • Chinese silk, porcelain imported

  22. Kilwa • City-state on east African coast • 800-1000 CE: Fishing, limited trade • Turned to agriculture,increased trade in pottery and stoneware • Major trading center by 14th century • Exporting over a ton of gold per year by 15th century CE

  23. Zimbabwe • ZIMBABWE  “dwelling of the chief” • Stone complex called “Great Zimbabwe” built early 13th century CE, capital • Population of 18,000 in late 15th century • Managed trade between internal and coastal regions

  24. Islam in East Africa • Ruling elites in east Africa accept Islam without forcing general population to convert • Often retained pagan religious traditions and practices • Islam serves as social glue with other merchants, states

  25. Arabian Society and Cultural Development • Some kingdoms, empires, city-states with well-defined classes • Ruling elites • Merchant class • Peasant class • Other areas in sub-Saharan Africa continue to use traditional kin-based groups

  26. Kinship Groups • Extended families, clans • Idea of private property less prevalent • Land held communally • Harvests distributed by elders

  27. Sex and Gender Relations • Men work with specialized skills • Tanning, iron work • Heavy labor • Both sexes work in agriculture • Male rule more common, but some expandedroles for women • Merchants, some military activity • Islamic norms slow to penetrate African society  little effect of shari’a

  28. Age grades • From early agricultural period, Sudan • Peer groups of single age cohort  like a grade level in school • Crosses lines of family and kinship

  29. Slavery • Practiced since ancient times • Most slaves captives of war • Debtors • Suspected witches • Criminals • Used principally in agricultural labor • Slave possession a status symbol

  30. Slave Trading • 9th century CE: Increased trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade stimulates slave trade • Africa replaces eastern Europe as principal source of slaves • Creates internal African slave trade • More powerful states attack smaller kinship-based groups • 10,000-20,000 slaves per year

  31. Arabian Swahili Slave Trade

  32. The Zanj Revolt • Slaves from Swahili coast exported to work in Mesopotamia • Sugarcane plantations • Salt deposits • 869 CE: Slave Ali bin Muhamad mounts revolt of 15,000 slaves • Captures Basra • Later crushed by Abbasids

  33. African Religion • Great diversity of religious belief • Common element: single, male creator god • Lesser deities associated with natural phenomena • Ancestor worship • Diviners • Religious specialists, principally men • Oracle reading, spells, other rituals • Limited emphasis on theology • Morality, balance of nature important

  34. Early Christianity in North Africa • 1st century: Popular in Egypt, North Africa • Initially weak in sub-Saharan Africa • 4th century CE: The Christian Kingdom of Axum (Aksum) • Ethiopia • Merchants, then kings convert • Bible translated into Ethiopian • Isolated during Islamic period, renaissance during 12th century CE • Massive churches carved out of solid rock

  35. The Obelisk at Axum

  36. Ethiopian Christianity • Isolation from other Christian areas until 16th century • Independent development • Strong African influence • “Spirit world” • Amulets

More Related